Messenger Article for the April 2008 issue.

Letter sent to Church of the Brethren Congregations

Sermon given at Hagerstown, Maryland

*A local volunteer grant-writer is preparing applications for a $10,000 grant from the Virginia Historica Preservation Society's Save Our History, and a $10,000 grant from Home Depot for community youth service for historic preservation.

* Brethren horticulturalist Jason Stevens of Jefferson's Monticello plantation visited the homestead January 25 and offered suggestions about landscaping, orchards and gardens. Jason left a list of 19th century Shenandoah Valley fruit trees and descriptions.  He recommended the removal of shrubbery from around the house as well as trees in the yard and garden.  He will provide a sketch of the property and further recommendations later on.
 
* JMU professor Darrell Nash has led students of his historic preservation class (January 26) on a tour of the John Kline House and grounds.  Their study of the architecture of the house and outbuildings for this semester will result in a preliminary packet of information for application to both national and state histric registries.  They've already discovered some interesting features about the house.  Nash will lead a second group of students February 16 to measure the blacksmith shop near the Linville Creek (on John Kline's farm) and the other outbuildings.
 
* Lantz Construction architect Christopher Eads also walked the property to develop a list of projects in preparation for the site review by the director of the Church of the Brethren Senior High Work Camp June 16-22 this month.  Tasks include cleanup of the fence rows and yard, removal of trees and shrubbery, priming and painting the smokehouse and carriage shed/shop roofs.  I've had three local adults offer to assist with the work camp.
 
* Pastor Roth reviewed with Curtis & Jeannie Alger Stutzman a list of antiques the Alger family is giving the John Kline Homestead.  They added a couple of other items, which will be on loan.  I've asked them to prepare another list with signatures and date.  We will review the items that may be sold for income for the purchase of the property.
 
* Pastor Roth have met with the Linville Creek Church of the Brethren Historical Committee to plan for an historical exhibit at Annual Conference this summer in Richmond, VA.  The Anniversary Committee is giving us a 10'X20" space at no charge.  I've recommended that half that space be used for the John Kline Homestead, and hope that we can put artifact furniture there with updates on the purchase of the property.
 
*  On March 30, Pastor Roth will be leading a Sunday School Class and preaching at the Hagerstown, MD, Church of the Brethren on John Kline.  One of the members will visit the homestead to take pictures in early March so she can spearhead a fund-raising campaign in her congregation.

*Pastor Roth is exploring the movement of a 19th century blacksmith shop near the Linville Creek to the John Kline Homestead to preserve it from demolition when the property is sold. The Church Historical Room has a photo of M.R. Zigler as a child standing beside the blacksmith, Andy Crist, at his shop, while M.R.'s father is sitting in a buggy.

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 Progress as of 4/23/2008

• Total gifts received are over $92,250. In addition, we have pledges for $12,500 to bring our total for the project to over $104,750.  We continue to receive contributions weekly.
• A formal fund-raising campaign is being planned for 2008 to reach our $600,000 goal.
• Incorporation papers have been filed with the Commonwealth of Virginia so that all contributions to the John Kline Homestead are tax deductible.
• The John Kline Homestead website is up with photos and updates on the progress of the project.  It may be viewed at www.johnklinehomestead.org.
• The Church of the Brethren Youth Work Camps Office is planning a Senior High Work Camp on the homestead June 16-22.  For registration, check the Church of the Brethren website  (www.brethren.org) and click on “Key Words,” then “Youth & Young Adults.”
• A Brethren horticulturalist at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello Plantation is donating 19th century fruit trees to the homestead and will help plan typical Shenandoah Valley garden plots of that era.
• A James Madison University professor will focus on the architectural design of the John Kline house and out-buildings to his spring semester class on historic preservation.  Their work will pave the way for registration with the national and state historic site registries.
• A display on the John Kline Homestead will be provided for the 2008 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Richmond, VA, July 12-16.
• Plans are underway for events and tours on the homestead in preparation for the 300th Anniversary of the Brethren this year.

Please contact us with your vision for the John Kline Homestead or questions you may have regarding its preservation.  We will be happy to inform you of further developments relating its maintenance and use.

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The Homestead./ Board of Directors /Progress of Project/ How you can help/ John Kline Memento Sales

Church of the Brethren Shenendoah District/ Brethren Encyclopedia / CrossRoads Valley Heritage Center